Bobby Underwood

Bobby Underwood dedicates this superb collection of old-fashioned noir stories “For All Those Who Dream In Black and White”.
I’m certainly one of those, and all the tales herein provided a most welcome, nostalgic journey into the past. I take this collection as a tribute to the classic noir which Underwood rightly describes as “...more about atmosphere, mood and story than the vulgarity, expletives, graphic violence and brutality, and dismal hopelessness…” of modern noir. But it’s much more than a tribute. It’s topnotch classic noir in its own right. In this reader's opinion, it’s even better.

Included in this volume are five unique stories, each taking place in the 1940s. For any fan of nostalgia and the literature, films, and radio shows from that era, this is a book full of gems.

WORLD FULL OF DREAMS
This narrative plunges the reader onto a Spanish Riviera beach shortly after WWII.
Join the young lovers, Jack and Amy, as the waves caress the shoreline. Let the story lap at the edges of your consciousness, teasing you with the promise of romance but concealing a twist that's as unexpected as a bullet in the dark. Underwood's noir undertow is more than a current; it's a riptide that drags you into the depths of passion, and what that passion may be capable of.

IF I SHOULD DIE BEFORE YOU WAKE
The year is 1947, and Nick Fallon, our 33 year-old protagonist, dreams of literary acclaim. With the flicker of talent illuminating his path and a devoted wife by his side, he strides confidently toward the goal of success. Yet, when the cruel hand of betrayal reveals his wife's dalliance with another, the very ground upon which he walks threatens to crumble beneath his feet, plunging him into the depths of a living nightmare.

HURRICANE
“It was too soon and we really didn’t know each other well. But it felt like we did. An Italian guy in our company had a word for what I was feeling about Ann. I couldn’t remember what it was but it was something like being struck by lightning in the heart. Ann was the warmest, softest lightning I’d ever been struck by. The kind of lightning that made me want to stand out in a storm holding a metal pole.”

Danger and romance mingle to create a tension-filled blend that keeps the pages turning long after the storm has passed.
Set against the backdrop of the tropical paradise of Indigo Cay, "Hurricane" immerses the reader in an atmosphere that’s felt to the bone. Underwood's mastery lies not only in his vivid descriptions of the physical landscape but also in his ability to evoke the psychological terrain of his characters.
As the storm approaches, danger and tension rise like floodwaters, threatening to wash away the fragile peace of this island paradise. But romance is a key ingredient in any Underwood story. He deftly weaves together the threads of suspense and romance, leading the reader on a highly entertaining journey toward the cathartic climax.

THE LEAFY GLADE
“She had a special spirit, and it radiated outward so that I felt like I was wrapped up in sunshine whenever she was near. When she wasn’t, it was like an eclipse.”

We’re taken back to a small Indiana town of the 1940s, which magically lives again through Underwood’s hypnotic prose. The writer disappears, leaving us an unobstructed view of a place, time, and people that are more real than our neighbors. Underwood, with his deft hand at storytelling, conjures a world so vivid and alive, you can practically smell the corn fields and hear the train’s whistle.

The characters are complex and utterly compelling. Their voices carry the echoes of a bygone era. From the haunted protagonist and the sweet, beautiful girl he loves, to the richest family in town, consisting of an egotistical, baseball hero, his powerful father, and his pretty, coquettish sister, Underwood populates his world with people who leap off the page and into your imagination, leaving an indelible mark long after the final page is turned.

DARK CORRIDOR
WWII vet, Neale Morrison, returns from the war without a memory of his past. When he tries to get on with his life, he soon realizes he’s being followed everywhere he goes by a mysterious stranger. If that isn’t enough to put him on edge, he also finds two women competing for his attention.

“It was a Bob Feller fastball that had caught me flat-footed.”

Even if you don’t know who Bob Feller was or are not familiar with the intrigue, romance, and patriotism of the 1940s, this is a story you shouldn’t miss. Bobby Underwood writes with such an accurate voice for the period, you’d think he was there, and better yet, that you were.… (meer)

“She had a special spirit, and it radiated outward so that I felt like I was wrapped up in sunshine whenever she was near. When she wasn’t, it was like an eclipse.”

What a humdinger of a tale Bobby Underwood has spun within the confines of his new, noir shot novelette, THE LEAFY GLADE! Forty-seven pages packed so full of atmosphere, a lesser writer would have used 150. It reads so smoothly, it feels more like 20.

We’re taken back to a small Indiana town of the 1940s, which magically lives again through Underwood’s hypnotic prose. The writer disappears, leaving us an unobstructed view of a place, time, and people that are more real than our neighbors. Underwood, with his deft hand at storytelling, conjures a world so vivid and alive, you can practically smell the corn fields and hear the train’s whistle.

From the first page, Underwood's prose casts a spell, drawing us deep into the heart of a mystery that crackles with tension and intrigue. The tale unfurls sharply, but naturally, allowing the reader to take a breath or two, and enjoy the wonderful anecdotes of a time that is no more.
I was especially struck by this line:
“America was baseball, and baseball was America.”
You’d be hard-pressed to sum up an era any better than that.

But it's not just the plot that captivates—it's the atmosphere, thick as molasses, that seeps from every sentence. Underwood has a knack for evoking the sights, sounds, and smells of a time long past, transporting readers to a world that no longer exists.

And then there are the characters—flawed, complex, and utterly compelling. Their voices carry the echoes of a bygone era. From the haunted protagonist and the sweet, beautiful girl he loves, to the richest family in town, consisting of an egotistical, baseball hero, his powerful father, and his pretty, coquettish sister, Underwood populates his world with people who leap off the page and into your imagination, leaving an indelible mark long after the final page is turned.

In THE LEAFY GLADE, Underwood proves once again why he's one of the finest storytellers of his generation. With his lyrical prose and keen eye for detail, he crafts a noir/mystery masterpiece that's as haunting as it is unforgettable. So do yourself a favor and dive into the murky depths of THE LEAFY GLADE—just be sure to keep one eye over your shoulder. You never know what secrets might be lurking in the shadows.… (meer)

This is exactly the kind of science fiction I enjoy--science takes a backseat to the drama unfolding within its pages, and it’s filled with a romantic atmosphere encapsulated in a unique story with characters I care about.
Underwood takes us on a nostalgic journey reminiscent of the sci/fi pulps from the golden era. Like the best of those stories, beneath the surface, there lies an allegory, a mirror reflecting the chaos of our own reality where madness seems to have run amok.
Within this superbly written novelette, the stars twinkle overhead, the scent of distant galaxies fills the air, and Underwood's prose enchants. "Red Heaven" is not merely a story; it's a symphony of emotions, a journey through the cosmos that is the possibilities of the human experience.… (meer)

Pretty nineteen-year-old Anne Ferguson, who comes from a very caring orphanage, leaves to make her way in the world. Anne travels to her new job in Palm Beach, Florida, and falls in love along the way. There are some surprises, but I don’t want to give too much away. I really liked the 1940’s time period, and the mystery in the story. The cast of characters were people I cared about. I especially liked the people at the orphanage, in particular, Aunt Betty, Aunt Gertie, and Anne’s best friend Grace. The cab driver Henry at Palm Beach was quite sweet, too.

Another great read by Bobby Underwood.… (meer)